Shaft-coupling.



No. 725,957.v PATENTED APR, 21, 1903.

v M. HALFPENNY.

SHAFT GOUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 2. `1902.

N0 MODEL.

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PATENT (Erica,V

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CANNON PORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SHAFT-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersvBatent No. 725,957, dated April21, 1903.

Application iled August 2, 1902.

To all whom, t may conoci/'n.-

' Be it known that I, MARTIN HALFPENNY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pontiac, county of Oakland, State of Michigan, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Shaft-Couplers; and I declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains-to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in' shaft-couplers for vehiclesshown in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly set forth inthel following specification andclaim.

Referring tothe drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of theshaft-coupler, showing it engaged with the shaft and locked as it wouldbe when secured to the buggy. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing itunlocked for the purpose of disengaging it from the buggy. Fig, 3 is aninverted plan view ofthe coupler.

Referring to the letters of reference shown on the drawings, Arepresentsthe shaft of a buggy or other vehicle; B, the shaft-iron,- which extendsbeyond the end of the shaft, terminating in an arc of a circle at Bforthe purpose of engaging a rubber bushing C; sleeved on the boltD,engaging the buggy.

B2 is a swinging arm pivoted at b, and likewise constructed on an arc ofa circle, theconstruction being such that the parts B and B2 areadaptedV to completely encircle the bushing C when the part B2 isclosed.

D is a lever pivoted at d to the lug b', formed integral with theswinging arm B2. At d' the lever is bent outward to forma convenientthumb-piece by which it may be oper- Serial No. 118,030. (No model.)

ated. The lever D is provided at its forward end with a raised portiond2, upon which the free end of the spring E bears.

E is a spring secured to the shaft-iron at d, the opposite end beingfree to bear against the end of the lever near its pivotal connectionwith the swinging arm.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from anexamination of the drawings. To engage the shafts to a vehicle, thelever D is thrown down, so that the swinging arm may be opensufficiently to receive within its jaws the bushing C. The lever is thenthrown up against the shaft-iron, the.move ment of which causes the jawsto close around the bushing, thereby engaging the shafts to ythevehicle. The action of the spring serves to hold the locking-lever inposition when closed. The bushing acts as an antirattler, and theconnection between the shafts and the vehicle is such that play of theparts is avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- In a shaft-coupler,the shaft-iron B, the fixed jaw B formed integral therewith, the

.swinging jaw B2 pivoted'to the fixed jaw and MARTINIIALFPENNY.

VWitnesses:

l S. E. THOMAS,

THOMAS M. LITTLE.

